CM Mamata Banerjee doesn't have much faith on her own police: Report

Kolkata, Oct 31: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also the home minister of her state. But ironically, she lacks the confidence on her own police force and prefers personnel of the Railways Protection Force (RPF) to continue looking after her security, according to a report published in Bengali daily Anandabazaar Patrika. They have been looking after her security even after three-and-half years since she took over as the CM.

According to sources in the state secretariat, the nine personnel who are in charge of the West Bengal chief minister's security are nearing the end of their deputation but Banerjee is unwilling to let them go, the ABP report said. The home department of the state has even requested the Centre to extend the terms of those personnel. RPF authorities said they would to look into the matter once the state's request reaches them, said the report.

However, the new government at the Centre might not accede to Banerjee's demand for railway personnel are not deployed to look after a chief minister's security. In Banerjee's case, those who are in charge of her security were doing the same when she was the railway minister in the previous United Progressive Alliance government. Since Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was a big ally in the government, the Centre did not raise objection to her security arrangement.

Recently, the police in West Bengal have drawn flak for the deteriorating law and order situation. The police were even accused of remaining silent spectators when a violence broke out in Panrui village in Birbhum district. Now, with the chief minister herself showing little trust on her own force, as per the report, one can well understand how much secure the common man's life is in the state.